News & Views item - May 2007

 

 

It's That Time of Year When the Controlled Budget Leaks Surface. (May 4, 2007)

    With the estimated surplus in the Federal Government's coffers of $12bn - $15bn and an opposition that looks menacing this election year even academe may be in for a morsel.

AAP reports, "University research and further measures to tackle Australia's skills shortage are likely to be the focus of new education spending in the federal budget."

 

The Group of Eight (Go8) in its budget submission has asked for a review of undergraduate student places and more full-fee positions, as well as a review of HECS rates and commonwealth contributions per student. "If not addressed, the demographic and student places issues ... pose significant risks to the Australian economy and society more broadly. The regulatory and funding issues ... threaten the long-term capacity of Australia's institutions to provide high quality education, research and research training."

 

And the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, already this week announced an additional $36.2 million over four years for CSIRO research examining the challenges facing Australia's manufacturing sector; specifically to enable the creation of a new CSIRO Research Flagship aimed at addressing opportunities in niche manufacturing, primarily focussed on nanotechnology and material sciences.

 

 Then there is the $11million over three years for "new research clusters".

With a $12-15bn budget surplus in the offing a bone of $47 million tossed applied researches way won't put too much of a dent into it, but when the dog is suffering malnutrition 0.39% ain't to be growled at.